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Matt Cain out for season, Giants say

Posted:
08/04/2014 01:42:26 PM PDT

Updated:
08/04/2014 01:44:46 PM PDT

The Giants right-hander will have bone chips in his right elbow removed next Monday in San Francisco. He is expected to be sidelined for about three months, but should be healthy in time for spring training.

"It's been frustrating for him," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Matt's been battling this for a while. It's time. He could keep trying to push it but it's inevitable, it looks like. Let's have this done and get him ready for spring training."

Cain hasn't pitched since July 9 and was put on the disabled list July 21. He saw three doctors, all of whom recommended surgery. Cain played catch on Friday to test his elbow one last time but was not optimistic about returning, saying the bone chips were unlikely to shift into a more tolerable position.

Cain will fail to reach 30 starts for the first time as a full-time big leaguer. He had pitched at least 184 1/3 innings every year since 2006, but will finish this season with just 90 1/3 innings, a 2-7 record and 4.18 ERA.

The 29-year-old said last week that the bone chips have been floating in his elbow for about 10 years.

"They've always been there," he said. "It's just that now they're mad and they're letting me know about it. For some reason, they got in a different spot and they got aggravated."

The Giants acquired Jake Peavy a few days before the trade deadline because they feared Cain might be done for the year.